Whiplash isn’t a minor injury, prompt care is necessary

The human body has negative reactions to violent forces like the ones that occur during a car crash. The impact can cause several things to happen. One consequence is that the head might snap back and forth because of the automobile wreck.

Whiplash is a neck injury that comes from that motion. It can lead to neck pain and stiffness that makes it hard to do normal life activities because you might not be able to move your head like you usually can. While many television shows make light of this injury, it is very serious.

What is whiplash?

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury but it can also impact the disks in the neck. It is the result of the ligaments, tendons and muscles stretching as the head whips around. This causes pain because of these tissues stretching so much. There are no quick or easy fixes for this injury, which is also known as a neck strain or sprain.

What are the symptoms?

Besides the pain and stiffness in the neck, whiplash can cause headaches, dizziness, fatigue, shoulder pain, upper arm discomfort, and numbness or tingling in the arms. In severe cases, people might become irritable or experience sleep changes. Ringing in the ears, blurry vision and memory problems can also occur. These symptoms won’t usually begin at the time of the wreck, but it will almost always begin within 24 hours.

What are the treatments for whiplash?

The most common treatment for whiplash is meant to control the symptoms, which can include pain-relieving medication or hot and cold compresses. Physical therapy can help many individuals with this condition. Surgery is necessary in limited cases when the damage from the injury is too severe for a person to recover naturally.

What is the prognosis?

With proper care, whiplash usually abates within a few weeks to a few months. There is a risk that someone will have long-lasting impacts from the injury, such as periodic neck pain that worsens with activity.

Even though you might think of whiplash as a minor injury, the financial impacts are considerable. Seeking compensation can help you to recover the damages from medical bills or missed wages. This is done by filing a civil claim, and it must be done within a certain amount of time after the crash.